Method and apparatus for weaving textile fabrics



a TEXTILE FABRICS.

E. INGHAM. FOR IEAvm JAN | INAL FILED Feb. 6, 1923.

- E. INGHAM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WEAVING TEXTILE Fnamcs.

OR! GINAL F LED JAN. 20, 1920. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Feb. 6,1923.

v v E. INGHAM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR wEAVlNG TEXTILE FABRICS.

OR i GINAL F 1 LED JAN. 20, 1920 Reissuecl Feb. 6, 1923.

UNITED STA EMANUEL INGHAJNI, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WEAVING TEXTILE FABRICS.

Original No. 1,328,794,

dated January 20, 1920, Serial No. 197,128, filed October 17, 1917.Applicatio for reissue filed December 19, 1921. Serial No. 523,582.

" more particularly to a method and appa ratus for weaving textilefabrics, especially curved fabrics.

In its broader aspects, the improved method of weaving comprehended inthe present invention is applicable to the production of fabrics of anyshape or material, but more specifically the invention contemplates theproduction of fabrics C-shaped in crosssection, suitable for use in themanufacture of pneumatic tire casings. Such fabric can be employedeither as a textile foundation,

.- embedded in rubber, to form the casing itself, or as a lining, or asa protective or antislipping covering for tires.

Among the objects of the invention, are, to provide novel means forweaving without the use of a shuttle, such means comprising instead aneedle of special design for laying the weft, whereby the simplicity andspeed of the loom is greatly increased, especially for coarse work; andto provide means for producing indefinite lengths of woven fabric curvedin cross-section and also curved longitudinally, such fabric, as itcomes from. the loom, conforming to the shape of a tire, thus obviatingthe necessity for pressing or molding the fabric, as has been the usualcustom heretofore. So far as ,I am aware I am the first to propose theweaving of a fabric of double curvature, in indefinite lengths, asdescribed.

In order that the various features of the invention may be readilyunderstood, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a. weaving machine or loom constructedin accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the needle andassociated parts;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of an enlarged scale of the improvedheddle which I employ;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 4% of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one section of the heddle andthe operating means therefor;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the machine substantially on theline 66 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the warpsupporting frame and weft engaging hooks or detents, the fabric beingshown in section;

Figure 8 is a similar view on a smaller scale showing the operatingmechanism for the hooks;

Figure 9 is a schematic viewon a small 1 Figure 12 1s an edge View ofthe needle partly in section on the line 12-12 of Fig- .ure 11; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the needle.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, in all the various attempts which havebeen made to produce woven textile fabrics, circular or C-shaped incross-section, a shuttle of one form or another has always been em.-ployed. The problem of replenishing the shuttle with thread has alwaysbeen and still is a very vexing one and numerous inventions have beendevised to facilitate this operation. The inherent defects of a shuttlein this respect become particularly marked when coarse or heavy threadis used for the weft, for in such cases it is possible to'wind but'acomparatively small amount of thread on the bobbin carried by the tionand then in the other, the extent of oscillation of the gear 31 beingsuch as to turn the pinions 28 and the attached crank arms 26 through180. As a result of such rotation of the pinions and arms 26, it will beseen that the front series of segmental blocks 24 is first movedradially outward, while the blocks of the rear series are moved radiallyinward, as shown in. the drawing, and then, at the end of the nextoscillation, the front series of blocks are moved radially inward andthe rear series moved radially outward. The warp threads. being ledalternately through heddle wires supported by the front and rear seriesof blocks respectively, it is obvious that the alternate radial movementof the blocks and heddle rods, as described, will result in theformation of a curved or cylindrical shed. This is indicated in Figures1 and 2.

The wheel 39 meshes withand is driven by a pinion 42 secured to theshaft 4.

The sleeve 14 carries a pin 43 which is engaged by the slotted end 44 ofa lever 45 pivoted at 46 tothe frame member 2 and carrying at its otherend a roller 47. This roller 47is arranged to engage the edge of a camwheel 48 rigidly secured to the shaft 4 and provided with a pair ofbevel ended notches 49. As the wheel revolves the roller 47 is caused todrop into and ride out of these notches, being urged toward the camwheel by means of a bow spring 50 secured to the stud 40 by means of abolt 51. The free end of the spring 50 bears against the lower end ofthe lever45, as clearly shown in Figure 1. It -will be therefore seenthat each time the roller 47 drops into a notch 49 the sleeve 14 will beshifted quickly to the left, thus bringing the spider 15 sharply againstthe rear side of the needle 52 now to be described.

In order to avoid the use of a shuttle, as

mentioned in the first part of this specificain detail in needle may bevery slightly eccentric or spiral, it is shown in the drawings ascircular and mounted upon a substantially true center. The needle, whichis designated in its entirety'by the reference character 52, consists ofa fiat annular member secured to a hub 53 and supported by means of asingle spoke or arm 55 which is attached to the needle body at its heel56. 'The hub 53 'is provided with an axial keyway 54, by. means of whichit is suitablv keyed to the shaft 11 but is free to move longitudinallythereon. The needle has a free end or point 57 which is preferably wedgeshaped or sharpened, as shown, so as to facilitate its entering the shedof the warp, and between such point and the rounded heel 56 is a gap orslot 58 through which the warp threads pass. As shown in Figure 12, thebody of the needle point 5,

is itself preferably wedge-shaped in crosssection, the front edge 52being relatively thin and the rear edge52 being thicker. It will beunderstood that ,the width of the needle may be made as great asdesired, this being determined .by the strength and rigidity which it isnecessary for the needle to have. At the forward edge adjacent the 7,the needle is provided with a slight extension or projection 59 throughwhich extends the thread delivery eye 60. This eye extends transverselyof the needle to a point near its center where is merges into a grooveand joins a circumferential groove 61 extending around the periphery ofthe needle body. Adjacent the heel an opening 62 extends from the groove61 through the body of the needle to the inside thereof and the hub 53is also provided with a thread guiding eye 63. The weft thread 64 whichis supplied from a fixed reel 65 located at any.

desired point, is led through the eye 63, through the opening 62, andthence follows the groove 61 around the circumference of the needle tothe eye 60 and is delivered from such eye at approximately the mostforward point of the projection 59.

. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the needle 52 is of such size as to justsnugly fit over the circular frame 13 around which the warp threads aresupported and the needle is adapted to enter the shed of the warp, asillustrated in this figure and in Figure ,9.

In order to properly catch and holdthe weft threads at the edges of thefabric I provide the mechanism illustrated in detail in Figures 7 and 8.Referring to these fig-' ures, 66 designates a cam secured to the shaft4 at its forward end and onthis cam rides a' roller 67 carried at thelower er 1 of a plunger 68 ar'oundwhich is disposed a helical spring 69.The upper end of the plunger 68 is pivotally connected to a pair oftogglelevers 70, each of which is pivoted at its free end at 71 to ahook or detent 72 pivoted at 7 3 to the frame 13.. These hooks ordetents 72 are adapted to engage the loops 74 formed in the, weftthreads at the edges of the fabric, as shown in Figure 7 and when movedto the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, to release or castoff such loops. *The cam 66 is soshaped that the movement of thedete-nts 72 relative to the needle will be properly timed.

A spring 75 is interposed between the hub 53 of the needle and thebearing 12 (see Figure 2) so asto return the needle to its normalposition after it has been forced forward by the spider 15.

In order to sustain the fabric and hold it in shape as it leaves theneedle and curved frame 13, I provide an arc-shaped shield or support77, preferably formed of thin sheet metal and secured at its rear end tothe frame 13, said frame having formed integral r also en therewith aforwardly extending bracket 76 ada ted tosupport such shield. Within theshie d 77 and adapted to move freely relative to the'same is disposed aform '78 similar in shape to the tire for which the fabric v isintended. This form 78 is supported on one 'or more spokes 79. securedto a suitable hub and loosely .journaled on a shaft 80. The spokes 7 9also carry an arc-shaped seg'- ment' 81 on which lies astrap 82 carryingat its free end a weight 83-which serves'to exert the proper tension onthe fabric and warp threads, as will be obvious. .Also

- mounted on the shaft 80is a'ratchet wheel '89 and a circular rack 91,rigidly united. On

. the shaft 4 is mounted a cam 85 adapted to engage a lever 86 pivotedat87 to the frame.

' member 3 and carrying at its free end a pivoted pawl 88 adapted-toengage-the ratchet wheel 89. A fixed pivoted pawl 90 gessuchratchetwheel toprevent the bac ward rot'a tion'thereof.

A latch 92 carried by'one ofthe spokes .179 is arranged to f'eng'age therack 91 and fsuchlatchmay be operated by means of a "f-f'handle 94 andlink 93, said link being surwhich the-areight 83- tends tourge the'form.

- shown in rounded by a helical spring 95 which serves tokeep-the latchin engagement. It will be understodtlilthat as the shaft 4 rotates theward step-'by step movement to the orm 78,

, teciprocated,.thus givin ya. for

such movement being" in? the direction in .it will be understood that asthe form moves to the 'leftand downwardly, as seen in Figure 1, thefabric slipsalong over the surface of the shield 77 The chief functionof the shield is to support the fabric and bridge the ga between thecircular frame .13 and the on of the form-78 when the latter is in itslower itions.. i

The shield. or support-77, taken with the frame 13, to which it is 'riidly attached, to.- gether constitute "a fixed, e ong'ated structurecurved both transversely and longitudinally, aroundv one end of whichthe -weft; thread. is laid, and along which: the finished fabric is fed'or drawn by the above described mechanism, asfast' as it is produced.

A brief description of the operation of the machine asa whole will now"be given. As the shaft4 revolves, an" alternating rotary motion isgiven to the shaft '11' and the needle 52 which is keyed thereto. Thewarp threadshaving been led through the heddle mechanism abovedescribedaresecured to the form 78,bv any suitable means, such threads prefera lypassing through an opening in a die plate 20 which surrounds thecircular frame13 and serves to confine and guide said warp threads. Asthe needle oscillates, it will enter the'shed, as illustrated Figures 2and 9, part of the warp remaindetent, as shown in Figure 7. It isobvious that it is necessary for the needle to make a completeoscillation in one direction and re turn to its starting pointso as tobe completely withdrawn fromthe shed before the shed-changes, andtherefore it is apparent that two weft threads will be laid side'by sidein each shed'of the warp. It will also The be clear that at one edge ofthe fabric the.

weft is looped around the warp thread, thus forming a true selvage,while at the other edge a series of loops is formed, as shown in Figure7 It will also be understood that while both of the detents 72 movetogether,- onl one is'operative at any one time, the we .threads beingcaught first by the hook onone-side and then by the hook on the otherside, as the needle oscillates'back and forth. The fact that the warpthreads 18 are held under tension by the mechanism above describedenables such threads to strip the loops 7 4 from the detents, as suchdetents are moved outwardl After each oscillation o the needle andtherefore after the laying of every pair of weft threads; the spider 15,through the mechanism above described, gives the needle a sharp blow,thus driving it to the left and 'beatin up the weft tightlyintothe'fellof After each such movement the the fa ric. spring 75retilrns the needle to normal position. .j.

It will be observed that the frame 13 and needle 52 arefdisposed at thesame distance froni the axis 80 as is the form 78, and lie in a planesubstantially radial to such axis, and perpendicular to the median lineof said form. .The weft threads are therefore laid in true radialplanes, and as they extend en tirely across orraround the fabric fromone edge to the other, they will necessarily be crowded more closeltogether at the inside or heels of the tireabrlcthan at the treadportion thereof. This results in a strong tendency for the woven fabricto retain its curved shape after it leaves the form 7 Sand.

when my Improved fabric isv woven in inwarp threads therearound, of

definite lengths, it will curl itself into a spiral or helix. When usingthe fabric in tire manufacture a sultable length will be cut off and theends spliced together to form a complete annulus.

What I claim is:'

1. In a loom, the combination with a curved frame, and mean-s forsupporting a rigid annular needle constructed to lay weft threads aroundsuch frame across the warp and disposed in a plane extendingtransversely of such warp. Y v

2. In a loom, the combination with means for supporting warp threads soas to conform to the arc of a circle, of a similarly shaped rigidannular needle mounted with its center on the axis of such circularwarp,

.ing

and adapted to lay same.

3. In a loom, the combination with means for supporting warp threads andfor forma substantially cylindrical shed, of an annular oscillatoryneedle adapted to enter such cylindrical shed and lay weft threadtherein, said needle being mounted with its center on the axis of saidcylindrical shed.

A. In a loom, the combination with means for supporting warp threads soas to define a curved surface, of means for forming a shed and anannular oscillatory needle adapted to lay weft thread in such shed, saidneedle lying in a plane extending transversely of the warp threads andhaving a gap through which such threads pass.

5. In a loom, the combination with means for supporting warp threads soas to form weft thread across the a curved surface, of means forproducing a shed in such warp, and an annular needle lying in a planetransverse to said warp threads adapted to enter said shed and lay weftthread therein, said needle having a gap through which the warp threadspass, and a point having a weft thread delivery eye adjacent said gap.

6. In a loom, the combination with means for supportingwvarp threadssoas to form a curved surface, of means for producing a shed. in suchwarp,

and an annular needle having a point adapted to enter said shed andcarry the weftthread therethrough, said needle being disposed in a planetransverse to said warp. threads and having a gap throu h which suchwarp threads pass.

7. n a loom, the combination with means for supporting warp threadsvsoas to form a curved surface, of means for producing a shed in such warp,adapted to enter said shed and lay weft thread therein, said needlehaving a gap,

and a point adjacent such gap, said point' having an eye, and thebodyvof the needle having a circumferential groove around which the weftthread passeson its way to said eye.-

and an annular needle 8. In a loom, the combination with means forsupporting warp threads and'forming a shed, of a fixed reel, and aneedle adapted to lay weft thread from 'said reel in such shed, saidneedle being fiat and extended in a direction parallel with the warpthreads, and relatively thin. in a direction at right angles thereto, soas to easily enter the shed, an havin a thread delivery eye opening outthrong itsedge.

9. In a loom, the combination with means for supporting warp threads andforming a shed, of a fixed reel, a needle adapted to enter the shed,means for moving said needle transversely of the warp so as to cause itto lay weft thread from said reel in such shed, and means for moving theneedle longitudinally of the warp so as to drive the weft threadstogether.

10. In a loom, the combination of means for supporting warp threadsaround a circular frame, and forming a shed therein, a fixed reel, anannular needle provided with a point adapted to enter the shed andhaving an eye through which weft thread is delivered from said reel,means for oscillating said needle so as to cause it to lay weft threadsacross the war in such shed, and means for shifting said needlelongitudinally of the warp so as to cause it to beat up the weftthreadsinto position.

11. In a loom, the combination with means for supporting warp threadsand forming a shed, of a. fixed reel, a needle adapted to enter theshed, means for moving said needle in a fixed plane transversely of thewarp so as to cause it to lay weft thread from said reel in such shed,means for shifting the needle longitudinally of the warp so as to beatup the weft thread into the fell of the fabric, and automatic means forreturning the needle to normal position after each such beating stroke.

12. In a loom sha ed in cross-section,

for weaving fabrics C- the combination wit means for supporting warpthreads to form a curved surface, of-mea'ns for forming a shed, a pairof movable detents disposed one adjacent each edge of such war a curvedoscillatory needle for laying we t thread back and vforth through theshed and looping it around such detents, and means for moving saiddetents to withdraw them from the loops thus formed.

13. In' a loom for weaving fabrics C- sha'ped in cross-section, withmeans for supporting warp threads to define a curved surface, of meansfor formin cer it one side of such warp, a curved oscillatory needle forlaying and forth through the shed and looping it around said detent,such weft thread forma shed, a movable detent disposed adj a thecombination weft thread back it to cast off the loops thus formed.

15. In a loom for weaving curved fabrics,

it from the suca heddle comprising a series of radially disposed rodshaving thread receiving eyes intermediate their ends arranged around thearc of a circle, the outer ends of said rods being free, a guide framethrough which such free ends of the rods loosely slide, andmeansattached to the inner ends of said rods for shifting themsimultaneously radially inward or outward.

16. In a loom for weaving curved fabrics, the combination with a curvedframe around which the warp threads are supported, of a similarly curvedoscillatory needle adapted to lay Weft threads in a fixed plane aroundsaid frame and across the warp, and a centrally pivoted segmentalannular form havng one end in position to receive the Woven fabric as itcomes from such frame, said needle and frame lying in a planesubstantially radial to the'pivotal axis of said form. 17. In a loom forweaving curved fabrics,

the combination with a curved frame around which the warp threads aresupported, of means for laying weft threads in a fixed plane around saidframe and across the warp, and a segmental annular form having one endin position to receive the Woven fabric as it comes from such frame,said frame lying in a plane substantially radial to the center ofcurvature of said form.

18. In a loom for Weaving curved fabrics, the combinationwith a curvedframe around which the fabric is woven, ofa annular form having one endin receive the fabric as it comes frame, said form being on a centralaxis.

19. In a loom for weaving curved fabrics, the combination with a curvedframe around which thefabric is woven, of a segmental annular formhaving one end in position to receive the fabric as it comes from suchframe, said form being pivotally supported on a central axis, and meansfor moving such form about its axis in a direction away from saidcircular frame.'

20. In aloom for weaving curved fabrics, the combination with a curvedframe around which the fabric is woven, of a segmental position to pfrom such pivotally supported annular form having oneend in position to"receive the fabric as it comes from such frame, said form having aseries of 131113 gap between segmentaladapted to engage the edge of thefabric, and being pivotally supported on a central axis.

21. In a loom for Weavingcurved fabrics, the combination with a. curvedframe around which the fabric is Woven, of a segmental annular pivotedform having one sition to receive the fabric as it comes from saidframe, and a thin, fixed, curved shield bridging the gap between saidframe and form, and overlying the latter.

22. In a loom for the combination with means for supporting warpthreads, and mechanism for laying weft threads transversely across thesame, of a segmental annular pivoted form in position to receive thefabric as it is woven, and a thin, fixed, curved shield bridging the theweaving mechanism and said form, and overlying the latter.

23. In a loom vfor weaving curved fabrics, the combination with a curvedframe around Which the fabric is woven, of a fixed shield attached toand conforming to the shape of said frame, and also curvedlongitudinally, said shield serving to support the woven fabric as itcomes from said frame.

end in poweaving curved fabrics,

24. In a loom for weaving curved fabrics,

the combination with a frame around which the fabric is woven, of anarc-shapedv fixed support having one end in position to receive thefabric as it comes from such frame, and means for gradually feeding thefabric circumferentially along such arc-shaped support.

25. In a loom for weaving curved fabrics, the combination with a die, ofmeans for drawing warp threads through the same, under tension, meansfor forming a curved shed in said threads, a curved needle dis-- posedadjacent said die, and means for oscillating said needle so as to causeit to enter such shed and lay weft threads therein.

26. In a loom for Weaving curved fabrics, the combination with a dieplate having an opening, of means for drawing warp threads throng .thesame, a heddle for said threads, and a curved oscillatory needle forlaying weft thread transversely of said warp threads, said needle beingdisposed be tween said heddle and die plate, and in a planesubstantially parallel withthe latter.

2?. In a loom for Weaving circular fabrics, the combination withmeansfor supporting Warp threads so as to conform to the arc of acircle, of a rigid annular needle, means for forming a heddle comprisinga plurality of rods disposed around the axis of said needle, and havingthread receivingeyes, means for shifting said rods in two, groups toform a complete cylindrical shed, in said warp threads, and means formoving said needle about its axis so as to cause a it to lay weft threadthroughout said shed;

rics, the combination of a fixed structure, curved both transversely andlongitudinally, throughout its length, around one curved end of whichthe threads making up the fabric are laid, means for so laying anduniting such threads as to form the fabric, and means for feeding thefinished fabric along such curved structure as the fabric is formed.

29. In a machine for producing curved fabrics, the combination with afixed elongated supporting structure curved transversely and arc-shapedlongitudinally, of means for positioning warp threads therearound, acurved needle disposed adjacent one end of said arc-shaped structure andlying in a plane transverse to said structure and passing through thecenter of the arc thereof, and means for moving said needle so as tocause itto lay weft threads across said Warp and around said structureto form the fabric.

30. In a machine for producing curved fabrics, the combination with afixed elongated supporting structure curved transversely and arc-shapedlongitudinally, of means for positioning warp threads there around, acurved needle disposed adjacent one end of said arc-shaped structure andlying in a plane transverse to said structure and passing through thecenter of the are thereof, means for moving said needle so as to causeit to lay weft threads across said Warp to form the fabric, and meansfor feeding such fabric along said structure as it is forgned.

31. In a loom of the class described, a

rigid annular weft needle having circumferential thread guiding means,and a de livery eye.

32. In a loom of the class described, a rigid annular Weft needle havinga gap, and a thread delivery eye adjacent said gap.

33. In a 100m of the class described, a Weft needle comprising a hub, aradially extending supporting arm, and a rigid annular body carried bysaid arm.

34:. In a loom of the class described, a. weft needle comprising a hub,a radially extending supporting arm, and a rigid annular body carried bysaid arm and having a gap adjacent thereto.

35. In a loom of the class described, a

weft needle comprising a hub, a radially extending supporting arm, and arigid annular body carried by said arm, said body having a gap adjacentsaid arm, thus formin a free end, said end having a thread deIivery eye.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

EMANUEL INGHAM.

Feb. 13, 1923.

J. A. WQHERRY I TYPEWRITER Y Original Filed Nov. 4, 1919 I 5sheets-sheet 1

